WALLACE HARDWARE MARKET HOSTS DEALERS, PROSPECTS AT SPRING DEALER BUYING MARKET IN GATLINBURG, TN.

Gatlinburg, TN (May 15, 2007) – Approximately 325 retailers and

200 vendors attended the Morristown, TN - based Wallace Hardware Company Inc.’s Spring “Proud to be an American” Dealer Market

May 8-10 in Gatlinburg, TN.  

Growth and new business was a common theme during the Market, according to Marvin W. Wiley, field sales manager and PRO program director for Wallace Hardware. “We had some new ground-up lumberyards and hardware stores sign with us during the Market,” Wiley said. “It’s exciting to see growth and new businesses launching in our industry.”  Wiley added that dozens of prospects attended the Market, including several that were conversions from other industry distributors to the PRO Hardware and

FARM MART programs.

Wallace Hardware created a pre-order online selling event that ran prior to the dealer market through the Illinois-based InXpo.  According to Mark Huegel, retail systems and technology director for Wallace Hardware, retailer usage of the online Market was up around 35 percent and there were more vendor offerings featured. “The retailers we spoke to said the pre-ordering allowed them more time during the market to experience the show and new items,” Huegel said. “Our dealers were very appreciative of the opportunity.”

Many retailers attended the popular pre-show dealer conference featuring a presentation from industry speaker, Tom Shay of Profits Plus.  Also prior to the opening of the market, Wallace Hardware hosted a Dealer Advisory Board Meeting for nine key

PRO Hardware and FARM MART retailers.  

“The retailers were asked to discuss the greatest obstacle faced by them or their business,” Wiley said. “Common issues included employee issues, sales, compensation, succession planning and profitability. It was a lively, thought-provoking discussion for the dealers.”

Shari Kalbach and Brendan Sullivan, managing directors for PRO Group Inc., attended the recent Wallace Market and participated in the Dealer Advisory Board meeting.  

 “Wallace Hardware is celebrating 85 years in the independent hardware market,” Kalbach said. “They continue to invite new retailers to their show and sell them on the importance of being an independent retailer by becoming a part of the PRO Hardware program.”

Wallace will host its next Market November 27-29 in Gatlinburg, which will mark the company’s 85th anniversary.

# # #

Wallace Hardware Company, Inc., based in Morristown, Tennessee, is a wholesale distributor of hardware, lumber and building materials, and farm supplies. Wallace Hardware joined the PRO Group in 1964 and currently markets the PRO Hardware, FARM MART and GOLDEN-LINK programs to more than 2,000 retailers. Wallace Hardware Company serves retailers in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

Headquartered in Denver, PRO Group Inc is a merchandising and marketing organization with purchasing power exceeding $3 billion through its 40 Member Distributors.

For More Information Contact:
Shari Kalbach, PRO Group, Inc.
303-792-3000

shari.kalbach@pro-group.com

or

Richard Snowden, Wallace Hardware Company, Inc.

423-586-5650